68,823
edits
Grand Theft Auto IV: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
:'''''"The American Dream's a fairy tale. It was never meant to be taken literally."'' -- [[Bobby Jefferson]]''' | :'''''"The American Dream's a fairy tale. It was never meant to be taken literally."'' -- [[Bobby Jefferson]]''' | ||
As read on the packaging of the game, Rockstar Games asks "what does the American dream mean today?". Niko is cynical about America, saying "capitalism is a dirty business" and only people who are extremely greedy and/or born into wealth have any opportunity. [[Mikhail Faustin]] also laments before he dies that "America made ([[Dimitri]]) greedy! ...This American greed takes everyone! It is like a disease!". Niko mocks American stereotypes like "strip malls and clinical obesity" (as do the makers of the game by hilariously parodying concepts like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-9/11 post-9/11 hysteria] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity celebrity obsession]). On the flip-side [[Roman Bellic|Roman]], as well as other characters ([[Brucie]], [[Bernie]], [[Ivan]] and [[Hossan]] among others) are optimistic about America and life in general, tend to do very well for themselves financially, and try in vain to encourage Niko to be more optimistic. | As read on the packaging of the game, Rockstar Games asks "what does the American dream mean today?". Niko is cynical about America, saying "capitalism is a dirty business" and only people who are extremely greedy and/or born into wealth have any opportunity. [[Mikhail Faustin]] also laments before he dies that "America made ([[Dimitri]]) greedy! ...This American greed takes everyone! It is like a disease!". Niko mocks American stereotypes like "strip malls and clinical obesity" (as do the makers of the game by hilariously parodying concepts like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-9/11 post-9/11 hysteria] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity celebrity obsession]). On the flip-side [[Roman Bellic|Roman]], as well as other characters ([[Brucie Kibbutz]], [[Bernie Crane]], [[Ivan Bytchkov]] and [[Hossan Ramzy]] among others) are optimistic about America and life in general, tend to do very well for themselves financially, and try in vain to encourage Niko to be more optimistic. | ||
The American dream is also shown not to be promised to anyone, not even when they already live in America. Social circles all the way from [[Playboy X|Playboy's]] and [[Elizabeta|Elizabeta's]] to [[Patrick McReary|Packie's]] all have trouble making and responsibly saving money, not restricting it to any one nationality. Early on, [[The Beat 102.7]] explains that their listeners "don't know how to manage their money yet!". Gerry describes his family's spending habits as "Never any fucking focus! Never! ...Oh yeah, wine and women as quick as possible, and remain a slave forever". Packie eventually says after [[Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend|a mission]] "Well, Niko, that was a whole lot of effort for no fucking reward. Story of my life." to which Niko replies "It is the story of a lot of lives, Packie. I'm getting used to hearing it". A very interesting part of the in-game media is a show called ''[[I'm Rich]]'', which documents the most outrageous displays of gluttony by the world's wealthiest people, enough to make anyone feel inadequate. | The American dream is also shown not to be promised to anyone, not even when they already live in America. Social circles all the way from [[Playboy X|Playboy's]] and [[Elizabeta|Elizabeta's]] to [[Patrick McReary|Packie's]] all have trouble making and responsibly saving money, not restricting it to any one nationality. Early on, [[The Beat 102.7]] explains that their listeners "don't know how to manage their money yet!". Gerry describes his family's spending habits as "Never any fucking focus! Never! ...Oh yeah, wine and women as quick as possible, and remain a slave forever". Packie eventually says after [[Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend|a mission]] "Well, Niko, that was a whole lot of effort for no fucking reward. Story of my life." to which Niko replies "It is the story of a lot of lives, Packie. I'm getting used to hearing it". A very interesting part of the in-game media is a show called ''[[I'm Rich]]'', which documents the most outrageous displays of gluttony by the world's wealthiest people, enough to make anyone feel inadequate. | ||